Skin lesions, including skin cancer, may develop without causing symptoms or attracting attention. Francisco Javier Melgosa Ramos, a dermatologist with the Valencian regional health department, says knowing your skin and watching for changes can help identify suspicious lesions early.
He recommends tailoring check-ups to individual risk rather than following a single schedule for everyone. People without known risk factors should examine their skin periodically and seek advice about new lesions or warning signs such as unexplained bleeding or rapid, persistent growth. For people at higher risk, a dermatologist may recommend checks every year or every three to six months, depending on their history and the number and type of lesions.
Risk factors include a personal or family history of melanoma or other skin cancers, many or atypical moles, fair skin and eyes, a tendency to burn, significant sunburns, immunosuppression and long-term exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation is a major concern, including cumulative exposure, childhood and adolescent sunburns, and the use of tanning beds.
Melgosa points to the ABCDE guide for changes in moles: asymmetry, irregular borders, multiple colors, diameter and, especially, evolution. A mole that changes in size, shape or color should be assessed. Other reasons to consult include a new lesion that keeps growing, unexplained bleeding, a wound that does not heal, or a mark that looks different from the others. Skin cancer does not always appear as a dark mole; persistent sores or crusts and repeatedly bleeding or progressively growing lesions also deserve attention, particularly on sun-exposed areas such as the face, ears, scalp and backs of the hands.
For home checks, he advises using good lighting and a mirror to examine the whole body, including both familiar marks and new ones. Help from a partner or relative can make the process easier, and photographs may help track changes over time.
Teledermatology services such as iDermApp can offer an initial assessment based on images and clinical information, then advise whether a face-to-face appointment is needed and how urgently. Melgosa says this can reduce the wait for an initial specialist opinion and help prioritize cases, including potentially malignant lesions. It does not replace an in-person examination: some situations still require direct assessment and tools such as dermoscopy.
Sources: La Vanguardia.